Happy Saturday shipmates, I've been meaning to post all week but haven't managed it. I knew the start of my uni term would be hard, and it's been, well, hard. I wish I could say I stayed sober for it but I didn't 😥I'm back on day 1 again and I'm going to do my best to carry on. I'm not drinking nearly as much as I was at the beginning of the summer, but I know that unless I stop, it's going to get gradually worse and worse again, and then I'll be back to day drinking in my office between seminars and vomiting at work. Which is so awful. I have to play the tape forward as they say.
On a happier note, I've sometimes felt very energised this week. I'm so busy there's no time to mope, and when the students are motivated and the teaching goes well, it's very fulfilling. It's just that I teach so many hours, I'm getting too much of a good thing... I don't know how full-time schoolteachers do it, honestly.
It sounds like a many of you are going through some real challenges 💐It's inspiring to read about you soldiering on. There is so much support here, it's lovely.
@EastCoastDamsel I hope you and your DH enjoy your well-deserved holiday. I hadn't heard of 'high control groups' (the term you mentioned), but when I googled it, sheesh. That does sound utterly toxic. Sometimes I think my parents managed our family when I was growing up like a mini high control group (!), so I do have a sense of how awful it can be. Please do prioritise your own sanity, as the other wise people on this thread have said.
@Becky3825 it sounds like you're doing so well! Despite the ongoing cravings (which sound totally normal btw, given the stage you're at in this journey). I don't know how to knit, but I do love beautiful wool - it's definitely worth the investment!
@Lavrander I'm so glad your holiday is going well, you deserve it!
@REP22 I have a lot of identification with what you posted about your childhood. A huge bravo to you for surviving and for sharing your hard-earned wisdom with others. My DM has memory loss now and isn't abusive any more, but there's nothing that makes me feel like a scared child again as quickly as interacting with my family (my family of origin I mean, since my DH and DC are pretty damn great; I'm so lucky in that regard).
@Swimfreak welcome back and bon courage to you, we can do this!
@WendyWagon your DD sounds fab. Avoid the Village of Doom. I hope your open day visit goes well!
@NorthernDancer all my sympathy about your DH. It's such a shame that you have to deal with all of these delays in the middle of what is already a very stressful situation. It's not fair... 💐
On a frivolous note, I just acquired a new keyring that is the spitting image of my beloved black cat. She sits and looks at me exactly like this! Am attaching image so you can see how beautiful she is.
Sending good weekend vibes to all, including those of you I've neglected to name!